Spectacle hearing aid with crossover signal routing

ABSTRACT

A spectacle hearing aid for directing sound signals from the side of a patient&#39;&#39;s head having a severe hearing loss to the side having normal or near normal hearing. The apparatus includes a microphone in one of the templar members of the spectacles for converting sound energy to electrical impulses and a conductor assembly adhesively bonded to the rear of the spectacle frame in a position extending transversely above the spectacle lenses. One end of the conductor assembly is connected to the microphone. The other end is connected to means for converting electrical impulses back to sound energy. In one application, the microphone is provided in one of the templar members. The ear with normal or near normal hearing is fitted with the templar member containing an amplifier. Provision is made for sound to enter the good ear in a normal manner and in addition to receive amplified sound from the other side of the head. In another application, microphones are provided on both sides of the head for receiving and amplifying sounds on both sides of the head and for transmitting the resulting amplified sound to the good ear.

United States Patent [54] SPECTACLE HEARING AID WITH CROSSOVER SIGNALROUTING 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 179/107S [51] 1nt.Cl G024: 11/06, H04r 25/00 [50] Field ofSearch 179/107 S;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,734,177 2/1956 Gilbert339/97 2,794,085 5/1957 DeAngelis.. 179/107 3,019,305 H1962 McCarrell,179/107 3,091,020 5/1963 Strazalkowski 179/107 3,238,309 3/1966Christofiersen... 179/107 2,874,230 2/1959 Carlson 179/107S FOREIGNPATENTS 1,074,617 10/1954 France 181/23 1,180,905 6/1959 France 181/23Primary ExaminerKathleen H. Clafiy Assistant Examiner-Thomas L. KundertAll0rneyCarlsen, Carlsen, Stunn & Wicks ABSTRACT: A spectacle hearingaid for directing sound signals from the side of a patients head havinga severe hearing loss to the side having normal or near normal hearing.The apparatus includes a microphone in one of the templar members of thespectacles for converting sound energy to electrical impulses and aconductor assembly adhesively bonded to the rear of the spectacle framein a position extending transversely above the spectacle lenses. One endof the conductor assembly is connected to the microphone. The other endis connected to means for converting electrical impulses back to soundenergy. In one application, the microphone is provided in one of thetemplar members. The ear with normal or near normal hearing is fittedwith the templar member containing an amplifier. Provision is made forsound to enter the good ear in a normal manner and in addition toreceive amplified sound from the other side of the head. in anotherapplication, microphones are provided on both sides of the head forreceiving and amplifying sounds on both sides of the head and fortransmitting the resulting amplified sound to the good ear.

SPECTACLE HEARING AID WITH CROSSOVER SIGNAL ROUTING The presentinvention relates to the hearing aid art and more particularly to animproved spectacle hearing aid. The invention is especially concernedwith what will be referred to herein a hearing aid used for directingsounds side of the patients head to the other.

An advantage of spectacle hearingai ds is that when worn in the normalmanner the spedfacles provide support for the receiver, amplifier,microphone and speaker but occupy very little space and are out of theusers way. Moreover, the movement of the wearers head moves themicrophone portion of the hearing aid as the ears would normally move.Accordingly, it is not necessary for the user to turn his body as whenusing a microphone worn on the body or hold the microphone portion ofthe hearing aid in his hands and orient it toward the various speakerswhen in a conference. The wearer need only turn his head toward thespeaker and thereby, even without being conscious of it, automaticallyorient the microphone portion of the hearing aid to effectively receivethe voice of each of the speakers.

These advantages of spectacle hearing aids cannot, however, be achievedwhen there is a severe hearing loss in one ear or in the event one earwill not support an ear mold.

In cases of this kind, it has been previously proposed to providecontralateral routing signals, i.e., from one side of the users .head tothe other. In these devices which will hereinafter be referred to as acrossover hearing aid there is a microphone in one of the templarmembers of the spectacles for the purpose of converting sound energyinto electrical impulses. Relatively complicated arrangements have beennecessary to provide contacts in each of the hinges of the spectaclesfor transmitting the electrical impulses through conductors embeddedwithin the spectacle frame. These have been expensive to manufacture anddo not provide the desired degree of reliability, where contact pointsat the hinge become dirty or covered with a foreign material which isnot a conductor of electricity. A further disadvantage of this type ofhearing aid is that a special andrelatively expensive spectacle frame isrequired.

In view of these and other deficiencies of the prior art, it is of thepresent invention to provide an improved crossover spectacle hearing aidin which the spectacle frame, i.e., the part supporting the lenses isentirely conventional.

The further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedspectacle hearing aid wherein electrical impulses are conducted from oneof the spectacle templar members to the other without the requirementfor electrical contacts at the hinge portion of the hearing aid.

The further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedspectacle hearing aid with contralateral signal routing wherein aconductor assembly is provided for transmitting signals between onetemplar member and the other and a provision is made for securing theconductor assembly to the surface of the spectacle frame.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedcrossover spectacle hearing aid with a flexible conductor assemblyconnected between the spectacle frame and the templar members in whichthe flexibility of the conductor assembly itself permits thearticulation of the hinge connected between the templar members andspectacle frame.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of an improvedspectacle hearing aid in'cluding'a conductor assembly composed ofinsulated wire at least partially coated with an adhesive and aprovision for rendering the adhesive temporarily sticky.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedcrossover spectacle hearing aid having a conductor assembly, each end ofwhich terminates in a removable plug including contacts adapted topierce the insulation of the conductors.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedcrossover spectacle hearing aid including a provision enabling thetemplar members to be quickly removed for shipment to a repair center inthe event they fail to operate.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed inthe course of the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair ofspectacles embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial rear elevational view of the spectacle frame.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial transverse sectional view taken on line3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the right-hand templar member afierhaving been removed from the frame.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the left-hand templar member afterhaving been removed from the frame.

FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on line 7-7 ofFIG. 6.

8 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a vertical longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of thetemplar membertaken on line 9-9 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

In brief terms, the present invention provides a 7 spectacle hearing aidincluding a frame structure simulating and worn as a pair of spectacles.The frame structure includes a center portion with a bridge and rimswhich extend transversely around either the top or bottom of the lenses.The templar members of the hearing aid are hinged to the frame structurebut in a preferred form of the invention are removably mounted thereon.A conductor assembly which is composed of flexible wires is removablybonded to the rims of the frame structure and includes unsupportedportions adjacent to the hinges which are free to bend as the hinges arearticulated. The rearwardly ends of the conductor assembly arepreferrably connected to a plug and each of the plugs is removably andconductively engaged with a socket in a templar member for completing anelectrical circuit between a microphone that is mounted in one of thetemplar members and a receiver that is associated with the other templarmember. Suitable amplifiers, batteries and volume control areconductively connected between the microphone and the earphone in amanner well known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3a spectacle hearing aid 10 including a spectacle frame 12 having a bow14 and a pair of rims l6 and 18 containing lenses 20 and 22respectively. Hinges 24 and 26 support stubs 28 and 30 respectively forarticulation at the ends of the center portion of the spectacle frame12. Each of the stubs 28 and 30 includes a rearwardly extendingprojection designated 32 and 34 respectively which are telescopicallyand removably engaged with recesses 36 and 38 of templar members 40 and42 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

The left templar member 40 includes a microphone 44 conductivelyconnected to a socket 46 through suitable means (not shown). Templarmember 42 includes an amplifier 48 having a receiver that is operativelyassociated in the usual way with a flexible depending sound transmissionduct 49 having an earpiece 50 connected to its lower end. Earpiece 50 inthis instance is provided with a center opening 52 through which normalsound impinging directly upon the user's ear is able to enter theexternal auditory meatus. The templar member 42 is provided with asocket 54 which is in turn wired to the amplifier 48.

The conductor assembly 60 which will be described with particularreference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 is composed of a pair of flexible wires62 and 64 bonded with adhesive to the rearward surface of the centerportion 12 of the spectacle designated 66 and 68 are unsupported andaccordingly are free to bend as the hinges 24 and 26 articulate. Fromthe hinges, the conductors 62 and 64 extend rearwardly and terminatewithin identical male plugs designated 70 and 72 which will be describedin detail below. The conductors 62 and 64 preferrably bonded thespectacle frame 12 by the provision of a solvent activated adhesive 73of any suitable known composition (FIG. 3).

The plugs will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 3, 6,7 and 8. Each of the plugs 70 and 72 includes a generally rectangularcasing 74 having a hollow interior 76 within whichismounted coittacts 7d 80. Contact 78 is affixed to the casing 74 by plastic resin 82 whichprojects through opening in the contact. Three sharp projections 84 willpierce the conductor62 to provide an electrical connection therewith.The contact 78 includes a laterally extending tongue 86 which projectsinto the center of the templar member 40 and is engaged by a resilientmetal contact 88. Similarly, the contact 80 is bonded to the casing 70by the provision of resin 90. Three sharp projections 92 pierce theinstallation on the conductor 64 to make an electrical connection. Alaterally extending tongue 94 makes electrical contact with a resilientterminal 96. Openings 98 are provided at the ends of the casing 70 topermit entry of the conductor 62 and 64. A cover 100 formed from agenerally rectangular sheet of plastic is telescopically fitted withinan opening 102 of corresponding shape to form the outward wall of theplug 70. Transversely extending plugs 104 and 106 having longitudinallyextending projections 104a and 106a provide a snap fit within recesses 1l and l 12 to removably retain the cover 100 securely in place.

A preferred method of assembly will now be described.

In the case of the individual having a severe hearing loss in one ear oran ear that will not support an ear mold and has normal or near normalhearing in the other ear, it is desirable to fit the templar member onthe side having a severe hearing loss with a microphone only. The earwith normal or near normal hearing would be fitted with the templarmember containing the receiver which includes the amplifier, batteries,volume control and receiver. An earpiece or car mold is also fitted tothe templar member containing the receiver. Ear mold 50 may be of anywell-known kind having 'a canal 52 which permits unamplified sound toenter the good ear in the normal manner. In addition, howeve the goodcar would receive the amplified sound rom t e other side of thepatient's head. This is essentially the arrangement illustrated anddescribed above in the specification.

On the other hand, a patient with a severe hearing loss in one ear andslight or moderate hearing in the other is ordinarily fitted with anarrangement that will provide amplified sound from both sides of thehead, that is to say bilateral amplified signals supplied to one car.This version of the crossover hearing aid contains a microphone in thetemplar member on the side of the ear with the severe hearing loss. Theother templar member contains a complete instrument (microphone,amplifier and volume control). The electrical signals transmitted fromthe microphone through the crossover assembly are applied to the sameamplifier. Accordingly, the bilateral crossover signal routing aids theear with the moderate hearing loss and also receives electrical signalscorresponding to sounds received from the side with the severehearingloss.

After a suitable combination of microphones and amplifiers is selectedas described above, a spectacle frame is selected and the stubs 28 and30 are properly mounted unless already present. The rear upper portionof the spectacle framework is washed with alcohol in the area whe e theconductors 62 and 64 will be attached. The eo nduct rs are then laid ona horizontal surface and a suitable adhesive-activating solution isapplied to make the adhesive become sticky. While the solvent that isused will depend upon the composition of the adthe adhesive 73 has beenrendered sticky, the center portion of the cable assembly is attachedfirst to the middle of the eyeglass frame 12 and worked outwardlytowards the hinges and over the stubs 28 and 30 with the portions 66 and68 remaining unattached as described above. The cable must lay flat,have no twist in it and it should be pressed down firmly so that itconforms to the shape of the spectacle framework. The adhesive is thenallowed to dry.

Next the ends of the wires are separated. The plugs 70 and 72 are theninserted into the sockets 46 and other The covers are removed and theconductors 62 and 64 are inserted into the slots 98 and 99 and forcedfirmly unto the sharp contact points 84 and 92. The covers 100 are thenattached and the excess wire is cut flush with the rearward ends of theplugs.

The present invention provides a number of advantages. Since the templarmembers can be removed from the stubs 28 and 30, they can be mailed to arepair center without sending the entire pair of spectacles. The plugscan also be quickly and easily removed from their sockets in the eventadjustment or.

repair is required and the sharp contact provided in the plugseffectively pierce the insulation used on the conductors therebyobviating a requirement for removing insulation from the wires. Afurther advantage of the invention is that the conductor assembly can beremoved and replaced if necessary without destroying the spectacle frameand the spectacle frame itself need not be specially constructed theremoval of the conductor assembly is the reverse of the assembly processdescribed above; namely, the proper solvent, as used above, is appliedto render the adhesive sticky and following this, the conductor assemblyis merely stripped, or pulled, from the surface to which it hadpreviously been applied. It should also be noted that contacts at thehinge points are unnecessary since the flexibility of the unsupportedsections of the conductors adjacent to the hinges permits freearticulation of the hinges.

Having now therefore fully illustrated and described out invention, whatwe claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spectacle hearing aid, the combination comprising a spectacleframe; a pair of templar members, each articulatably supported onrespective ends of said frame and including a socket for removably,conductively engaging a plug; microphone means disposed in one of saidtemplar members; receiver means disposed in the other of said templarmembers; a conductor assembly removably, adhesively disposed on saidframe and removably, adhesively disposed on at least a portion of saidtemplar members; and a pair of plug members, each of said plug membershaving outwardly extending conductive terminals adapted to be insertedinto corresponding conductive terminals in the sockets in said templarmembers, one of said plugs being disposed on each end of said conductorassembly whereby said microphone disposed in one templar member may beelectrically connected to energize said receiver in the other of saidtemplar members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plug members are comprised of ahousing including outwardly opening apertures; an electrode extendingoutwardly therethrough, each of said electrodes having an inwardlyextending pointed projection for piercing the insulation ofpredetermined conductors on said conductor assembly said housing beingconfigured to removably receive an end of said conductor assembly withpredetermined conductors overlying predetermined inner ends of saidelectrodes and a removable cover member for the housing of said plug,said cover member forming one wall of the plug and engaging saidconductors of said conductor assembly to conductively dispose saidconductors on the inner pointed ends of said electrodes when said coveris in place on said housing.

1. In a spectacle hearing aid, the combination comprising a spectacleframe; a pair of templar members, each articulatably supported onrespective ends of said frame and including a socket for removably,conductively engaging a plug; microphone means disposed in one of saidtemplar members; receiver means disposed in the other of said templarmembers; a conductor assembly removably, adhesively disposed on saidframe and removably, adhesively disposed on at least a portion of saidtemplar members; and a pair of plug members, each of said plug membershaving outwardly extending conductive terminals adapted to be insertedinto corresponding conductive terminals in the sockets in said templarmembers, one of said plugs being disposed on each end of said conductorassembly whereby said microphone disposed in one templar member may beelectrically connected to energize said receiver in the other of saidtemplar members.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the plug membersare comprised of a housing including outwardly opening apertures; anelectrode extending outwardly therethrough, each of said electrodeshaving an inwardly extending pointed projection for piercing theinsulation of predetermined conductors on said conductor assembly saidhousing being configured to removably receive an end of said conductorassembly with predetermined conductors overlying predetermined innerends of said electrodes and a removable cover member for the housing ofsaid plug, said cover member forming one wall of the plug and engagingsaid conductors of said conductor assembly to conductively dispose saidconductors on the inner pointed ends of said electrodes when said coveris in place on said housing.